Spring 2024
WHEREAS, Colonization has had profound and enduring negative effects on the world, leaving a legacy of exploitation, cultural destruction, and social upheaval, as evidenced in Guns Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond and The Colonizer's Model of the World by J.M. Blaut; acknowledging the historical legacies of colonialism that persist in higher education systems worldwide; recognizing the importance of diversity, inclusivity, and equal representation in academia; and affirming the commitment to dismantling structures of oppression;
WHEREAS, An exclusively Eurocentric education can be detrimental as it perpetuates a narrow and biased worldview, neglecting other cultures and civilizations' diverse contributions and perspectives, fostering cultural insensitivity, and hindering the development of a well-rounded, inclusive perspective essential for navigating an increasingly interconnected and diverse world; and
WHEREAS, Many community colleges, including those in the community college system and beyond, have occasionally adopted colonial mascots, monikers, and nomenclature as emblematic representations imbued with historical significance, contributing to an atmosphere that disregards the harmful aspects of colonial history, fostering an incomplete and idealized narrative, and negatively impacting students from marginalized communities; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, the emerging generation, earnestly advocate for the integration of a curriculum within the community college system that encompasses not solely European and Western perspectives, but also perspectives from diverse global origins in every academic discipline this proposition is aimed at aligning educational content with the contemporary global reality in which we reside;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, the succeeding generation, assert the imperative need for the meticulous decolonization of research practices within the community college system with the purpose of fostering a scholarly environment that prioritizes the production of data characterized by heightened accuracy and cultural inclusivity such a paradigm shift in research methodology is believed to contribute significantly to the enhancement of data collection processes, ensuring a more comprehensive and unbiased representation of knowledge;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, as representatives of the succeeding generation, strongly urge for the elimination of colonial mascots due to their adverse impact and the negative connotations they impart upon our educational institutions and our diverse student populations; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, the representatives of the upcoming and succeeding generations, unite in our commitment to the decolonization of institutional nomenclature within the community college system; recognizing the imperative for transformative change, we jointly advocate for the elimination of all nomenclature associated with colonialism, encompassing monikers, nicknames, verbiage, and institutional names rooted in colonial history In pursuit of this objective, we formally propose the removal of names linked to buildings that commemorate individuals responsible for atrocities committed in the name of colonization acknowledging the gravity of historical injustices, we advocate for the reinstatement of traditional indigenous names where applicable, fostering a healing process that prevents the perpetuation of cultural genocide to ensure a respectful and inclusive approach, we further propose the consultation of nearby indigenous communities, tribes, and nations in this ongoing process by actively involving these communities, we aim to honor diverse perspectives, rectify historical wrongs, and contribute to societal healing, fostering a community college system that aligns with principles of equity, inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, compassion, empathy, and healing.
WHEREAS, An exclusively Eurocentric education can be detrimental as it perpetuates a narrow and biased worldview, neglecting other cultures and civilizations' diverse contributions and perspectives, fostering cultural insensitivity, and hindering the development of a well-rounded, inclusive perspective essential for navigating an increasingly interconnected and diverse world; and
WHEREAS, Many community colleges, including those in the community college system and beyond, have occasionally adopted colonial mascots, monikers, and nomenclature as emblematic representations imbued with historical significance, contributing to an atmosphere that disregards the harmful aspects of colonial history, fostering an incomplete and idealized narrative, and negatively impacting students from marginalized communities; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, the emerging generation, earnestly advocate for the integration of a curriculum within the community college system that encompasses not solely European and Western perspectives, but also perspectives from diverse global origins in every academic discipline this proposition is aimed at aligning educational content with the contemporary global reality in which we reside;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, the succeeding generation, assert the imperative need for the meticulous decolonization of research practices within the community college system with the purpose of fostering a scholarly environment that prioritizes the production of data characterized by heightened accuracy and cultural inclusivity such a paradigm shift in research methodology is believed to contribute significantly to the enhancement of data collection processes, ensuring a more comprehensive and unbiased representation of knowledge;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, as representatives of the succeeding generation, strongly urge for the elimination of colonial mascots due to their adverse impact and the negative connotations they impart upon our educational institutions and our diverse student populations; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, the representatives of the upcoming and succeeding generations, unite in our commitment to the decolonization of institutional nomenclature within the community college system; recognizing the imperative for transformative change, we jointly advocate for the elimination of all nomenclature associated with colonialism, encompassing monikers, nicknames, verbiage, and institutional names rooted in colonial history In pursuit of this objective, we formally propose the removal of names linked to buildings that commemorate individuals responsible for atrocities committed in the name of colonization acknowledging the gravity of historical injustices, we advocate for the reinstatement of traditional indigenous names where applicable, fostering a healing process that prevents the perpetuation of cultural genocide to ensure a respectful and inclusive approach, we further propose the consultation of nearby indigenous communities, tribes, and nations in this ongoing process by actively involving these communities, we aim to honor diverse perspectives, rectify historical wrongs, and contribute to societal healing, fostering a community college system that aligns with principles of equity, inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, compassion, empathy, and healing.